Fair Winds Charter

The Fair Winds Charter is the first voluntary scheme initiated by Hong Kong’s shipping industry to reduce ship emissions by requiring ocean-going vessels to switch to a low-sulphur fuel while at berth. The initiative, the first of its kind in Asia, eventually prompted the government to enact the Air Pollution Control (Ocean Going Vessels) (Fuel at Berth) Regulation in 2015 – arguably the most significant and effective policy intervention to reduce air pollution from local sources since 1990.

Civic Exchange played multiple roles throughout this process, from identifying the ship-emission pollution issue, commissioning research, to engaging academics, the shipping industry and the government in order to influence policymaking and improve air quality. The Fair Winds Charter report documented this process from start to finish to serve as a case study for multiple stakeholders.

On 19 September 2018, Civic Exchange organized a seminar to discuss the 10-year journey leading to the signing of the charter and explored next steps in further improving air quality in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.